THE UFC lands in Atlanta, Georgia this weekend with a crossroads match-up that could well end with a former king taking off his gloves and retiring them in the centre of the Octagon.

Kamaru Usman rolls the dice one last time against rising star Joaquin Buckley knowing defeat would likely close the book on his stellar career.

Now 38, and with three consecutive defeats in the rearview, ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ fights to salvage his fighting life on Saturday.

NIGERIAN NIGHTMARE

Just three years ago, Usman was recognised as the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in MMA.

Riding a 19-fight win streak, he went from winning ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ tournament to welterweight top spot in just three years, before making five defences of the belt.

His achievements were edging him close to the legacy of Hall of Famer Georges St Pierre, but then, in the blink of an eye, or the flash of a single head kick, his title reign ruptured.

Cruising to another defence in Salt Lake City in the summer of 2022, Birmingham’s Leon Edwards landed the shot of his life, knocking Usman out spectacularly to snatch away the belt.

Ewards then cruised to a points decision in a rematch in London the following year, before Usman lost for a third time – albeit up to 185lb at 10-days notice – to the unbeaten Khamzat Chimaev.

In the 18 months of inactively now passed, has the break allowed Usman to rediscover the winning formula or is he simply another victory of forever unbeaten Father Time?

NEW MANSA

Buckley, 31, has been waiting patiently for a chance like this for some time.

He joined the UFC in 2020, when Kamaru was at the top of the tree, and despite a few highlight-reel, cheque-cashing moments, he ran up a 5-4 slate jumping between the welter and middleweight divisions.

In May 2023, however, ‘New Mansa’ returned to 170lb and landed a head kick knockout of his own over Andre Fialho that proved to be a turning point in his UFC run.

Now riding a rankings-climbing six-fight winning streak, he fought and won four times last year alone – stopping three ranked opponents, including two multiple-time title challengers.

CROSS-ROADS

Kamaru hasn’t won a fight in three years, seven months and eight days.

In that time, Buckley has finally figured out his best weight class and gone on a run as formidable as anybody in the division.

But in 27 pro fights, Buckley has never featured as one half of a main event scheduled for five rounds. Bread and butter stuff from Usman.

Buckley is known for being explosive and dynamic with his striking; ensuring he’s got the tank to go an extra 10 minutes at his pace will be of concern.

But equally as concerning is whether Usman can fight at pace for a full 25 minutes anymore.

Dogged by injuries from a lifetime on the wrestling mats, Usman likely doesn’t know himself exactly what is left in the tank.

Form and freshness is certainly with Buckley, but if Usman can pace the fight right, he’s cute enough to mix up his takedowns and striking in a fashion to sway the judges.

But time waits for no man, and Joaquin is the right striker in the right place at the right time to close the chapter on Kamaru’s UFC tenure.

TIP: Buckley by Knockout (Boosted to 2/1)

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